Improved belt-tightener



@ atc-ut @Wire RUEUS N. MERIAM, 0F WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

Letters Patent No. 96,718, dated November 9, 1869.

IMPROVED BELT-TIGHTENER.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RUFUS N. MERIAM, of the city and county of Worcester, and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Belt-Tighteners; and 1 do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description of thesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 represents a side view of my invention as applied'to a tenoning-machine.

Figure 2 is a plan of the same corresponding to iig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

This invention consists in connecting the tighteningpulley with the frame or movable part of a machine, to which the driven pulley is attached, by mea-ns of a lever and suitable connection, whereby the operation of the tightening-pulley is made automatic, anda nniform tension of the belt is preserved.

This improvement is applicable to all machines where the driven pulley does not maintain a fixed position, but changes the distance from the driving-pulley more or less, and' may be adapted to two or more arbol-s.

To enable others skilled in the art of constructing belt-tighteners to make and use the same in accordance with my invention, I will proceed to describe the same applied to a tenoning-machine, as shown in the drawing. Y A

`A is the fixed frame of a tenoning-machine, which is provided with suit-able ixed bearings, to receive the driving-shaft B', on which the driving-pulley B isv mounted.

The cutter-arbor C, which carries the pulley C', has its bearings also secured to frame A.

Y A is a frame, hinged at one end to the fixed Trame A, and made adjustable by means vof a serew'at the other end, for the purpose of allowing the cutter-arbor E, which is arranged in bearings upon said frame, andcarries the pulley D, to be moved to a greater or less distance from the cutter-arbor C.

G is the tightening-pulley,which is attached to a pin, a, and allowed to turn freely in suitable bearings secured to one end ofthe lever H.

The fulcrum of said lever is at b, on the fixed frame A, whilethe other end of the lever is connected with the adjustable frame A', by means of a suitable jointed bar, c.

AThe length of the arms of the lever H being made of a certain proportion, which is a matter of ordinary calculation or experiment, insures a correct operation of the tightening-pulley G, on the belt F, which passes from the driving-pulley B, around the driven pulleys O41), and the tightening-pulley G. Thus, when the frame A', to which the cutter-arbor E and pulley D are attached, is raised, and thereby the distance between the driving and driven pulleys increased, it tilt-s at the same time the lever H, and makes the pulley Gr assume a position corresponding to the changed position of the pulley D, whereby the belt F is enabled to accommodate vitself to that change, and preserve a proper tension, as shown in dotted lines in fig. 1.

What is here claimed, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is

The connection of the lever H, carrying the tightening-pulley G, with the frame A', carrying the' movable arbor, substantially as herein described, whereby the adjustment of the movablearbor is made to eliect a corresponding adjustment of the tightening-pulley. RUFUS N. MERIAM.'

Witnesses:

H. A. RICHARDSON, S. F. BOND. 

